Acetylene-generating system.



A. P, JENKINS. ACBTYLENE GENERATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1912.

Patented May 12, 19H,

Q ma NN uw w A md ieoo ooo@ i l /NI/ENTo/e WTIVESSES a/-Gff UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER F. JENKINS, F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ACETY/LENE-GENEB'ATING SIYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Continuation of `application Serial No. 640,064, tiled .Tuly v24, 1911. This application led August 7, 1912. Serial No. '713,821.

ain, residing. at Baltimore city, State ofA ..Maryland, have invented certain new and useful 'Improvements in Acetylene-Grenerating Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in acetylene. generators of that type in which a suitable vapor, such as steam, acts upon the .calcium carbid to produce acetylene gas for lighting or any other purposes, the generator being especially useful for train, car, Avessel and 'house lighting systems lwhere a heating fluid, such as steam, or products of combustion,or electricity,.may be utilized to produce vapor within the acetylene generator. In carrying out the invention, a va- -por producing device is arranged withinthe carbid holding 'compartment of the generator'and water or other liquid in small quantity is supplied to the vapor producer so that the heat lwill vaporize the water, the feed of the water being automatically governed by the pressure'ofthe generating gas acting on a controlling valve. The heating medium may be steam taken from-the train pipe of a lrailroad car, from the boiler of a house -heating system or steam propelled vehicle,

or it'may'bethe products of combustionfrom a Ifurnace -or internal combustion engine, such steam or products of combustion being conveyedthrough a pipe or-conduit which vaporizes the water fed-'tothe acetylene-generator. Furthermore, the heat for Vaporizing the Water may be derived vfrom an electric resistance element suitably supplied withcurrent, an electric thermal vapor producer of fthis character being especially adaptable for electrically propelled street land intel-urban cars equipped with a lighting system using acetylene gas. An acetylene generator equipped withthe electric vapor producer is advantageous in a portable oxyacetylene metallurgical outiit since a current can be supplied -to the set 'from any,

available source through a cable.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates'certain embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a side view o the generator with portions in section to show the fluid thermal vapor producer. Fig. 2 is avertical 'transverse section of the generator. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail vlew of a pressure con-4 phragm.

trol Water 4supply valve, in combination with an'electric thermal vapor producer.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts'throughout the views.

:Referring to the drawing, A. designates a casing of suitable form, such foninstance, as a metal cylinder having heads'l and 2 at opposite ends, the lformer being readily removable so as Lto permit access -to the gener- 5 ating chamber 3 in which'is a carbid holding basket 4 and an ash-receiving tray 5, the basket resting lon horizontal ledges 6 secured at opposite sides within the cylinder A. The end ofthe cylinder opposite from '70 the generating chamber 3 forms a Washer chamber 7 through which the gas passes be- 'forefbeing consumed. In order to keep 'the washer cool, an air cooling chamber 8 formed by transverse -partitions v9 and .10 may be provided and air may freely circulate through this chamber'by means of openings Kor passages lll. From the chamber 3, the

gas is conducted through a pipe 12 to the 'bottom of 'the `washer chamber and therein thegas rises't-hroughfthe body of water-and Ais dischargedthrough the outlet pipe 13 that connects with a lighting system, oxyacetyleneburner or the like.

The acetylene 4gas is produced by vapor acting on the carbid in the basket 4, and for Iproducting this vapor a vaporizer 14 is arranged in the chamber 3 above vthe basket 4,

the vaporizer being a body of suitable material that v.will hold the Water dropped thereon and allow it to be converted into vapor. The water vis supplied through a valve mechanism B which ismounted-on the cylinder A vdirectly vover the vaporizer and this valve mechanism B comprises a casin 15 which is in open communication with tire generating chamber 3 through a-port or opening 16, and the water admitted through the valve device B passes through the port 16 and the vaporizer 14. In one wall of the casing 15 is a resilient diaphragm 17 that has connected therewitha rod 18 which terminates in a valve 19' adapted to open and close a passage 20 leading from the inlet chamber 21 to the interior of the casing 15. Behind the diaphragm 17 is a spring 22 which is capable of adjustment by a screw 23 so that any desired tension can be placed on the dia- The pressure of'the generated gas acts outwardly on the diaphragm and tends to close the valve 19 in opposition to the spring 22, and hence by properly adjusting the spring the valve Will open and close in such a manner as to maintain a substantially uniform gas pressure in the generator. By means of this valve device, the pressure of the gas may be readily adjusted for different classes of service, such as lighting, oxyacetylene Welding or'metal Welding or cutting, or

lcharging of tanks With the acetylene gas under high pressure directly and Without the use of pumping apparatus. The Water or other liquid to be converted into vapor or steam is supplied to the 4inlet chamber 21 through a pipe 24. The heating of the vaporizer or steam generator 14 may be accomplished by the use of steam, products of combustion, or electric current.

In Fig. l, a steam pipe 25 is shown which has a portion` 26 disposed Within the generating chamber 3 and in heat-conducting contact with the body 14 of the vaporizer so as to heat the latter to such a temperature as to cause the Water to vaporize. The pipe 25 may be a branch from a train steam pipe, or it may be a separate pipe connected With a locomotive Where acetylene head-lighting is desired, or it may be a branch of a house heating system, or it may be a conduit through Which products of combustion pass, as Where the generator is used for lighting purposes in connection With automobiles, motor boats or other vehicles driven by an explosive engine.

In Fig. 3, the vaporizer is heated by an electric resistance element 27 which may be connected With a suitable source'of current by leading-in Wires 28 and 29. In either form of the device, should the lighting medium become deranged or interrupted for any reason, the generation o the gas is ,not interfered with because the Water supplied to the vaporizer, instead of being vaporized, will drop directly on the carbid and cause gas to be generated so that the lights supplied by the generator will continue to burn. This isan important feat-ure yWhen the generator is used in connection with train lighting or vehicle lighting Where it often happens that the cars are disconnected from the locomotive which is the source'of the heating element, or the engine of the vehicle is stopped While it is necessary to keep the lights burning.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily ap-` parent to v those skilled in the art to which the invention vappertains, and While I have .described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made. when desired as are Within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new is 1. The combination of an acetylene enerator including means for holding car id, a vaporizer for generating vapor to act on the carbid, means for heatlng the vaporizer, and means controlled by the pressure of the generated gas for directing liquid upon the vaporizer to produce Vapor in such quantit'y as to maintain a substantially uniform gas pressure.

2. The combination of an acetylene enerator including means for holding car id, with a flameless thermal vapor producing means yWithin the generator for generating acetylene gas by the action of the vapor on the carbid.

3. The combination of an acetylene generator includin means for holding carbid, a vaporizer in t e generator, means for heating the vaporizer, means for supplying liquid to the vaporizer to produce vapor, and an automatically actuated valve controlled. by the pressure of the generated. gas for governing the supply of Water delivered to the vaporizer..

4. The combination of an acetylene generator including means for holding carbid, a ilameless vaporizer disposed in proximity to the said means, means for heating the vaporizer, and means forsupplying Water to the vaporizer to produce vapor when the vaporizer is heated and to drip from the vaporizer upon the carbid to generate gas when the vaporizer is unheated.

5. The combination of an acetylene generator including means for holding carbid, means for supplying liquid to the carbid, and means Within the body of the generator capable of converting the liquid to vapor before reaching the carbid-whereby gas can bepgenerated by the liquid direct or by the vapor,

6. The combination of an acetylene generator including a carbid holder, a conduit for a heating medium, a vapor generator heated thereby for supplying vapor to act on the carbid, and an automatically controlled valve for supplying liquid in such quantity to the vaporizer as to produce vapor to generate gas in accordance With the demand.

7. The combination of an acetylene generator including a carbid. holder, a conduit extending through the generator for a heating medium, means for supplying liquid to produce vapor by the heat from the said medium.

8. The combination of an acetylene generator including a carbid holder, a conduit disposed above the holder and adapted to receive a heating medium, means above the izo .conduit for supplying water for generating vapor by the heating medium and for permitting water to drop upon the carbid when the heat is not suiclent to generate vapor, and a valve responsive to the pressure of the generated gas for controlling the supply of water.

9. The combina-tion of an acetylene gen erator includin a carbid holder, an electro thermal vaporlzer in the generator, and means responsive to the pressure of lthe generated gas for delivering water upon the vaporizer to kgeneratevapor in the presence of the carbid.

10. The combination vof a as-holding receptacle, means therein for p olding carbid, and means Within the receptacle for producing free vapor directly in the vicinity of the carbid whereby the vapor reacts on the latter to produce gas.

11. The combination of a chamber, means therein for holding carbid, means in the chamber for producing vvapor in the presence of the carbid, means for supply-ing thermal energy from a point exterior of the chamber to the vapor-producing means, and means for supplying Water from a point exteriorof the chamber to the vapor-producing means. y i

In testimony vvhereofl aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER F. JENKINS.

Witnesses:

A. THOMPSON, C. N. PoLLARD. 

